Have your say about anti-coagulation services in Bradford

Patients are being invited to have their say about anti-coagulation services in Bradford to help local clinical leaders improve the services available.

Almost 5,000 people across Bradford are currently prescribed medicine, known as anti-coagulation drugs, that stops their blood from clotting quickly. The best-known of these drugs is warfarin, so the anti-coagulation services are often called ‘warfarin clinics’.

NHS Bradford City and NHS Bradford Districts clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) want to hear from patients who use the services so they can make decisions that will really improve their pathway of care.

As part of their planning work, the CCGs are looking at services where patient feedback has highlighted areas for improvements and/or contracts are due for renewal, which gives them a chance to introduce changes. The contracts for local anti-coagulation services are currently being reviewed.

At the moment, each patient affected has their blood clotting monitored by an anti-coagulation service. Some will go to hospital or their GP surgery and have a finger-prick blood test and get a result straightaway, while others attend for a blood test, where a sample is sent away for testing before patients get their results by letter, text, email or phone.

Anti-coagulation drugs are important because they help prevent blood clots which can damage the lungs and block the flow of blood to the brain, causing a stroke.

Dr Matt Fay, GP lead for long-term conditions at Bradford Districts CCG, said: “We want local patients to have access to the best possible services that meet their needs, so it’s very important that we hear direct from patients about what matters to them. Their views will be used to help us make the right decisions to provide anti-coagulation services that they need.”